Boy Scouts go “Scouting for Food” to help Feeding America

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WEST ALLIS (WITI) -- Boy Scouts canvassed the Milwaukee area last week, going door to door leaving bags to collect non-perishable food items for the Scouting for Food program. On Saturday, March 22nd, scouts sorted the items for families in need.

More than 30 Boy Scout units pitched in to help feed the community. A steady line of cars pulled up with donations at the West Allis Farmers Market Saturday morning while scouts collected and sorted the items.

"Schneider Trucking will take it back to our food bank and we'll get that out to the community," said Kathleen Fugler with Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin. "We work with 1,000 hunger relief programs in eastern Wisconsin so they'll come to our food bank."

The boys worked to fill box after box with the overwhelming amount food donations -- items Fugler says are much-needed this time of year.

"After the holidays wrap up, our donations dwindle a little bit at the food bank -- and especially with the extremely cold weather, families are choosing between heating their homes or providing food for their children and that's a really difficult decision families have to make," said Fugler.

Scouting for Food has been a successful program in past years, and this year proved no different. The Boy Scouts collected a total of 139,946 pounds of food to help feed those struggling with hunger.

"From past years we pick up amongst all the collection sites probably about 200,000 pounds of food and I'm told that food can be distributed within a week's time," said Wayne Tillman, District Chair of Scouting for Food.

Those still interested in donating can drop off non-perishable food items at any Pick-N-Save store. Collection bins will be set up until April 4th.